Chapter 57

Lake POV

I woke slowly, my body heavy with the kind of exhaustion that came from emotional devastation rather than physical exertion. For a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was or why everything hurt. Then it all came crashing back—the morning’s breakdown, Ollie’s fear, the desperate scrubbing that had left my throat raw and bleeding.

My hand reached out automatically, searching for the familiar warmth of my brother beside me. When my fingers found only empty sheets, cold and smooth, my eyes snapped open with a jolt of panic.

“Ollie?” The word came out rough, my throat protesting the sudden use. I pushed myself up too quickly, the room spinning as I scanned frantically for any sign of him. “Ollie!”

“He’s right here,” Ramon’s voice came from across the room, calm and reassuring. “Lake, breathe. He’s safe.”

I turned toward the sound and felt my entire body sag with relief. Ramon was standing near the window, and there—sleeping peacefully against